smartphone is a mobile phone that offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a basic feature phone. While some feature phones are able to run simple applications based on generic platforms such as Java ME or BREW, a smartphone allows the user to install and run much more advanced applications based on a specific platform. Smartphones run complete operating system software providing a platform for application developers. A smartphone may be thought of as a handheld computer integrated within a mobile telephone.

Growth in demand for advanced mobile devices boasting powerful processors (Microprocessor), abundant memory (Non-volatile memory), larger screens and open operating systems has outpaced the rest of the mobile phone market for several years. According to a study by ComScore, in 2010 over 45.5 million people in the United States owned smartphones and it is the fastest growing segment of the mobile phone market, which comprised 234 million subscribers in the United States.